Britney Spears axed from 'The X Factor'?

Britney Spears is allegedly set to be axed from 'The X Factor' USA.

The 'Hold It Against Me' singer - who acted as a judge on the second series of the FOX reality TV show alongside Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato and L.A. Reid - is reportedly unlikely to have her contract renewed after disappointing producers with her "low energy" and providing "boring" feedback to contestants.

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A source told US Weekly magazine, that the 31-year-old mother-of-two - who was on a one year $15 million contract and whose act Carly Rose made it to this season's grand final - is facing the axe just weeks after music producer and record label boss L.A. Reid announced he won't be returning next year.

The insider said: "Britney will get the boot. Producers wanted her for the long haul, but it isn't working. They paid all that for her to say 'amazing' and offer half-claps."

The source said Simon Cowell was especially let down by Britney's attitude on the panel, saying: "He wanted crazy Britney, but he got boring Britney."

Meanwhile, Britney's personal relationship with fiance Jason Trawick is also reportedly on the rocks.

L.A. Reid quits X Factor

A friend said: "They are pulling away from each other. Unless things change, they will split for good."

Sources previously claimed that 'The X Factor' producers were eager to dramatically reduce the show's budget next season and felt they could not justify paying Britney $15 million again in light of the show's disappointing ratings.

The source said: "Producers were hoping to pull in between 15-20 million viewers but the show hasn't reached those expectations and in a recent episode that clashed with the World Series only 5.7 million watched.

"Those numbers add up to cost cutting and Britney will be expendable. So, considering Fox has already renewed 'The X Factor' for a third season, producers will be looking to spend less on the production of the show, including the judges' salaries.

"Britney, who was signed on a one-year deal, is the first person who will be expected to have her salary chopped. She is on a $15 million contract, which is absurd given that there's been no huge surge in the ratings."

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